U.S. Takes Top Spot in Global Connectivity Study Commissioned by Nokia
Broadband Data, International
February 1st, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 1, 2010 – The United States took the top spot on the 2009 Connectivity Scorecard, a research project linking increased national technological connectivity with socio-economic transformation.
Professor Leonard Waverman of the London Business School and economic consulting firm LECG put together the scorecard focusing on 50 countries using metrics such as national usage, skills and infrastructure.
Waverman found that the United States leads more categories than any other nation – its person computer penetration of businesses is excellent and the nation takes top prize in secure server deployment. However, he found that consumer infrastructure does not score as highly for the United States as its other metrics and its “broadband and 3G penetration are average.”
British Internet Service Providers Cry Foul Over Copyright Bill
Broadband's Impact, Copyright
November 23rd, 2009
WASHINTON, November 23, 2009 – British Internet service providers are alarmed by government efforts to enact legislation they claim would place an unfair burden on them to go after alleged copyright infringers online.
The U.K. Internet Services Providers’ Association said Friday that they are concerned that legislation currently being considered would “penalize the success of the Internet industry and undermine the backbone of the digital economy.”
Open Access Rules Touted as Prescription For Low U.S. Broadband Rank
Broadband's Impact, Net Neutrality
November 19th, 2009
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2009 – The United States has lost a lot of ground concerning internet expansion, adoption and affordability – ranking below the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Korea – according to experts at a telecom conference on Thursday.
Additionally, said Debra Lathen, board member of British Telecom, the U.S. is plagued by battles over efforts to intrude upon network neutrality. That is not the case in the United Kingdom, she said. Such a problem does not exist in England.
First County to Declare Broadband a Legal Right: Not Finland, but Switzerland
Broadband Stimulus, NTIA, Universal Service
October 31st, 2009
October 31, 2009 – Finland made headlines earlier this month in declaring that broadband had become a legal right. While this startled some people, the Finns were not the first people to declare this – the Swiss were. Further, in 2003, at the World Summit on the Information Society, a declaration of principles was drafted and signed by a number of nations around the world, including the United States.
NTIA's Lawrence Strickling Describes Role of BTOP in Broadband Plan, Innovation Strategy
Broadband Stimulus, Broadband's Impact, NTIA, Premium Content
October 26th, 2009
NEW YORK, October 26, 2009 – NTIA Administrator Lawrence Strickling, speaking at a telecommunications conference here on Friday, said that a national broadband plan is key to the innovation strategy of the Obama administration, along with expanding research and development, increasing education and providing a strong technological ecosystem. With regard to the Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program funding program, he said that not every good project would be funded, as there simply are not enough funds. At the same time, he said he wanted to make sure that the agency did not fund any bad projects.